The lights are out in Highland Park, where DTE Energy crews recently removed roughly 1,400 streetlights as part of a settlement allowing the cash-strapped Detroit enclave to avoid paying $4 million in outstanding bills.

The 2.9-square-mile city, home to more than 11,000 residents, is left with around 500 streetlights, many on main thoroughfares. Most neighborhoods have none.

Mayor Hubert Yopp tells The Detroit Free Press he's working on a plan to restore some of the removed lighting, and city officials plan to meet with DTE on Friday.

U.S. Rep. John Conyers says he contacted the offices of President Barack Obama and Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder on Tuesday, and he is joining Yopp in the call for immediate federal and state funding to restore neighborhood lighting.

"Everyone knows that most crimes occur in darkened neighborhoods," the Detroit Democrat said in a released statement. "And it is especially alarming that the street lights' removal will be completed by Halloween, perhaps one of the most important days of the year to have lighting to prevent crime and mischief."

However, city leaders who approved the DTE settlement, have painted a different picture. Just last month, after thieves broke into three local schools at night, City Council President Norma Lewis downplayed the lack of lighting.

"I just think we're going to have those break-ins anyway," she told Fox 2. "Most of those break-ins are happening in the daytime."

Michigan declared a state of emergency in Highland Park in 2001, and state-appointed financial managers ran the city (and one ended up having to repay it) until it was returned to local control in 2009.

DTE says the city hasn't paid a bill in full for between five and ten years.